Mower.



No. 819,349. .PATENTED MAY 1, 190's. P. HANSON.

MOWER.

APPLICATION FILED MARA. 1902.

{SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED' MAY 1, 1906. P. HANSON.

MOWER. APPLICATION FILED MAR.4, 1902.

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P. HANSON.

MOWER. APPLICATION FILED MAR.4, 1902.

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No. 819,349. I PATENTED MAY 1, 1906. P. HANSON.

MOWER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, '1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn- MOWER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1906.

Application filed March 4, 1902. Serial No. 96.644.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL HANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Mower, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to mowers. The object of the invention is to simpli and improve the construction of machines of this class and to render the same more eflicient'in operation.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in plan, parts broken off, of a construction of mowing-machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, arts broken off. Fig. 3 is a view in front e evation. Fig. 4 is a central lon itudinal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 1, loo ing in the direction of the arrows. Fig.- 5 is a broken detail view in side elevation of the foot-lever and its locking-latch. Fig. 6 is a broken detail view in horizontal section of thegear mechanism for driving the sicklebars. Fig. 7 is a. detached detail view in side elevation of the gag-lever, showing the application thereto of the locking extension thereof. Fig. 8 is a top plan viewof the same, Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9 9, Fig. 8, lookinginthe direction ofthe arrows. Fig. 10 is a. detached detailview showing the arrangement of gag-lever with reference to the stop. or shoulder therefor on the yoke-sleeve. Fig. 11 is a detached detail View in plan of.

the casing inclosing the driving-pinion ofthe pitman-actuating gearing. Fig. 12 is an end i elevation of the same. on the line 13 13, Fig. 6, looking in thedifl rection of the arrows- Fig. 14 is a detailv view in front elevation, similar to Fig/,3, showing the cutter-bar in raised positionand the other parts in corresponding position. Fig. 15 isa detail view in section, the

lane of section being transverse to the shaft shown in Fig. 6, and through the ballbearing E.

The same part is designatedlby the same Fig. 13 is a sectign:

reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views. I .I

In the drawings, reference-sign A designates the main frame, in which is ournaledthe main axle B, .upon which are mounted the usual traction-wheels C.

D designates the tongue or pole of the machine; E, the drivers seat F, the finger-bar; G, the cutter bar or sickle; H, the shoe; J, the yoke; K, a brace-bar; L, the drag bar or coupling arm upon which the yoke' J is sleeved, and M the pitman for actuating the cutter-bar. hese parts may be of the usual or any well-known or convenient construction and arrangement, and in the specific details of construction andv arrangement thereof form no part of my present invention.

The first part of my invention relates particularly to the gearing by which the pitman M is actuated and which will now be described.

Mounted upon the main axle B is a drivegear N, arranged to mesh with anddrive a I plnion O,,loosely sleevedupon a short counter-shaft P, journaled, preferably, in rollerbearings in the usual and ordinary manner, supportedupon a suitable extension of the main frame. The'pinion O is provided with an exteriorly-squared or polygonal-shaped hub extension Q, upon which is mounted to slide'a sleeve R, whereby said sleeve is rotated when pinion O is rotated, but can be slid longitudinally with respect to the pinionhub. This sleeve carries or is formed with a clutch-face, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, arranged to cooperate with a similar clutchface formed upon a sleeve S, also mounted on stub-shaft P and connected to or forming part of a bevel-gearT, arranged to mesh with and drive a bevel-pinion A, mounted upon the shaft B, through which the pitman M is actuated. If desired, and in order to prevent endwise motion of the shaft P, the sleeve S may be pinned to said shaft. This pin is shown at C, Fig. 6. The end thrust upon lshaft P is taken upon a plug D, inserted in the bearing-block in which said shaft is ournaled, and a ball E is interposed between the end of shaft P and said plug. Preferably, and as clearly shown in Fig. 6, this ball is arranged to operate or travel in a grooved track orraceway formed partially in the end of shaft. P and partially in the opposed end of plug D, and which track or racewayencircles concentrically the axis of the shaft-.13,

,L ro

whereby saidball operates somewhat out of center with reference to the axis of rotation of shaft P. Only one ball E is employed in this end-thrust bearing, because only one is sufficient, by reason of the fact that it is arranged to operate in close proximity to the axis of the shaft. The clutch member or sleeve B may be operated in any suitable or convenient manner to effect the engagement or disengagement of the clutch members. I have shown a simple arrangement wherein a forked yoke F is arranged to straddle and engage in a groove formed in the periphery of the slid} ing sleeve R, said fork or yoke being carried upon a rod G, upon which is mounted an operating-handle H, operating over a cam-surface J, whereby said rod G is shifted longitudinally to shift the clutch-sleeve upon its bearing on the polygonal-shaped hub of pinion O. [If desired,a spring K may be arranged to exert its tension upon said rod in a direction to hold the clutch-sleeves in clutching relation. 7 The cam-surface over which the operating-handle H Works serves to overcome the tension of the spring to effect a disengagement or uncoupling of the clutchsleeves and to hold the clutch-sleeve R in disengaged relation.

The pinion O and the adjacent roller-bearing of shaft P are inclosed in a shield or casing L. (Most clearly indicated in Figs.'2, 11, and 12.) This casing or shield forms an inclosing cover for these parts to prevent the ingress of dust or dirt to the bearing, and in order to provide an efficient arrangement for this purpose this shield or cover is provided with an end extension M, which fits down over the end of the shaft to entirelyinclose the same. This shield or inclosing casing may be conveniently bolted or otherwise attached to the extension of the main frame in which said shaft is journaled.

The next feature of my invention relates to the mechanism for operating the gag-la ver. This gag-lever is indicated by reference-sigh N and is pivotally mounted, as at O, upon a lug or extension formed on the yoke J in the usual manner, and at one end thereof is arranged to bear upon an extension or lug P, formed on the shoe H. At its other end said gag-lever is provided with a series of holes or openings Q, into any one of which may be secured a lifting-link R. The other end of said lifting-link is connected pivotally to a casting S, pivotally mounted, as at T, upon the main frame of the machine. This casting is provided with a lug or extension A to which is connected, through a link B or otherwise, one end of a spring C the other end of said spring being adjustably connected to a fixed part of the main frameas, for instance, by means of a nut D engaged by a threaded bolt or rod E mounted in a lug or extension of the main frame, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. Rigidly secured to casting S is a long lever F provided with a foottreadle G arranged in convenient relation to the drivers seat to be engaged and operated by the foot of the driver. By this construction it will be readily seen that the lever F and casting S, to which said lever is secured, in effect, constitute a bell-crank lever, the lever F forming one arm of said lever, the other arm of said lever affording means of connection for the spring C It wilLbe seen from this construction that an exceedingly long leverage is secured in a most simple and efficient manner when it is desired to rock lever F, the spring Q serving as a counterbalance for the weight of the shoe and its associated parts. Pivotally mounted upon the treadle G is a foot-pawl H having an engaging end J adapted to cooperate with a shoulder or lug K (see Fig. 4,) formed in convenient position upon the framework of the machine. If desired, a spring (indicated in dotted lines at L see Fig. 5) may be interposed between the treadle G and the pawltreadle H the tension of said spring being normally exerted to hold the locking-pawl of 'treadle H in position for the nose or engaging end J thereof to ride over and snap against or under or in engaging relation with respect to the lug or projection K when said lever F has been sufficiently depressed in the operation of raising the coupling-arm shoe and associated parts. In this manner a lock is provided for holding the lever F in its extreme depressed position. When it is desired to release this look, the driver engages the pawl-treadle H with his foot to effect a disengagement of the toe or engaging end J 2 of the locking-pawl from the lug or projection K thereby permitting lever F to be returned to its elevated position.

In machines of this class it is desirable to provide means for locking the cutter-bar in vertical or upright position when said bar is folded or swung to such position. My present invention contemplates the provision of means which are simple and efficient for accomplishing this purpose and wherein I pro vide the gag-lever N with a pivoted auxiliary piece M This auxiliary piece is bifurcated or forked to receive the end of the gag-lever between the arms thereof, said arms being provided with studs or frojections N arranged to project inwar y or toward each other and into an opening 0 formed in the gag-lever, as clearly shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. At its end the auxiliary piece M is pro vided with an engaging lug or projection P The lug or projection P, formed on or connected to shoe H and through which said shoe is rocked about the axis of its pivots Q (see Fig. 3,) is provided with a curved or cam surface, (indicated at R which curved surface is somewhat eccentric with respect to the axis of pivots Q of the shoe, and when the finger-bar occupies the horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 3, the shoe extension P rides up into the space between the arms- ,of the auxiliary ieoe M and the lug or projection P of sai auxiliary piece rides along the curved or cam surface R of said extension until the finger-bar reaches its vertical or upright position, when said lug P will ride or snap over the portion or shoulder S of lug or extension P, thereby forming a lock to hold the finger-bar in its vertical or upright position. A lug T is formed on the sleeve A of the yoke and constitutes a limit-stop to limit the rocking movement of the gaglever N when the latter is rocked about its pivot O by the operation of lifting-link R when the foot -lever F is sufficiently depressed. This lug T projects outwardly from the sleeve A as clearly shown in Fig. 10. If the auxiliary piece M of the gag-lever were rigid with said lever, then when said lug or extension P rides upon the inclined surface R to snap over the shoulder S into looking relation the danger is incurred of forcing the gag-lever off or away from engagement with shoulder or lug T formed on the sleeve A of the yoke, so that when the lug P finally sna s over the shoulder S the parts will sudden y drop by reason of the return ofthe gag-lever to engagement with the shoulder T and hence imposing an undue strain upon the parts supported thereby. To overcome this objection, I provide the auxiliary piece M which is, as above explained, pivotally connected to the gag-lever, so as to provide a desirable relative movement between these parts, thereby enabliiz the projecti on P to snap over the shoulder S when the parts are brought into proper relation therefor without danger of the gag-lever be-- ing forced away from its looking or holding lug T and hence I avoid the objection of the parts dropping at the moment the lockinglug P snaps over the shoulder S finger-bar is held or locked in its vertical or upri ht position by the locking mechanism, as a ove described, it may be released by first releasing the foot-treadle lever F so as to permit the shoe to fall to the ground. Thereafter by the driver or operator engaging the foot-treadle Gr from underneath and raising the same to greater extent than is required to permit the shoe to rest upon the ground the gag-lever is sufficiently rocked to permit the auxiliary pivoted extension M thereof to become loose upon itspivot and to be disengaged from engaging relation with respect to shoulder S and thereafter the finger-bar may be permitted to be turned or swung down into horizontal position.

The usual tilting lever P) may be provided When the for adjusting the tilt of the points of the cutters, said tilting lever being connected by a link C with an extension of the sleeve A by which the yoke is sleeved upon the couplingarm Li It is believed that the operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; but the operation of the gag-lever will now be more fully set forth.

When the driver places his foot upon the foot-treadle Gr and exerts pressure thereon, lever F is rocked, thereby rocking casting S and drawing vertically upon link R and hence rocking gag-lever N in-a direction for the free end thereof to engage shoe projection or extension P, thereby rocking said shoe, so as to vertically raise the outer end of the finger-bar. This movement and opera tion continues until the gag-lever N abuts against the shoulder or stop T whereupon the parts become locked, and continued downward swir g of arm F rocks the bracebar K and drag-bar L by swinging the same about their points of pivotal connection to the main frame, thereby raising vertically the coupling-arm, yoke, shoe, and inner end, as well as outer end, of the finger-bar in the usual manner. When it is desired to lock the finger-bar in its vertical or upright osition, said bar being raised to such position y hand or otherwise in the ordinary manner, the lug or projection P on the auxiliary part M of the gag-lever rides over the cam-siuface R on the shoe extension P, finally snapping over the shoulder S and locking the finger-bar in its vertical or'upright position, the pivotal connection between the auxiliary piece M and gag-lever preventing the ag-lever from being forced away from its 'ng orengaging lug T Many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts would readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of. my invention. I do not'desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact or specific details shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a construction embodying the principles thereof, and having described its purpose, function, and mode of operation in the various features thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mowing-machine, a main frame provided with an extension, bearings supported in said extension, a counter-shaft journaled in said bearings, a plug to receive the end thrust of said shaft, a ball-bearing interposed between the end of said shaft and said plug, said ball-bearing including a circular ball-race formed in the end of said shaft and encircling concentrically the axis of rotation of the shaft, whereby said ball operates off the center of rotation of said shaft, a pitman, a main axle, a drive-gear thereon and gearing carried by said counter-shaft and actu= ated by the drive-gear on said main axle for operating said pitman, as and for the pur pose set forth.

2. In a mowing-machine, a yoke, a shoe pivotally mounted thereon and provided with a lug or extension, said lug or extension having a shoulder at the end thereof, a gaglever pivotally mounted upon said yoke, an auxiliary part pivotally connected to said le ver and forming an extension thereof, said auxiliary part having at it's extremity an engaging lug arranged to snap over the shoulder on said shoe extension to form a lock to hold said shoe in tilted position, and means for releasing said look, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a mowing-machine, a shoe, a support therefor upon which said shoe is pivotally mounted, a finger-bar carried by said shoe, said shoe provided with an extension, said extension having a shoulder at the end thereof, a gag-lever arranged to engage said extension to tilt the shoe, an auxiliary piece pivotally connected to said gag-lever and forming a continuation thereof, said auxiliary piece provided with an engaging lug at the end thereof said lug arranged, when said finger-bar is raised to vertical or upright position, to snap over said shoulder to form a look therefor and connections for releasing said lug, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a mowing-machine, a shoe, a support upon. which said shoe is pivotally mounted, a finger-bar carried by said shoe, said shoe provided with an extension having a shoulder at the end thereof, a gag-lever arranged to cooperate with said extension to tilt said shoe when said lever is rocked, a forked or bifurcated extension pivotally connected to said lever for rocking movement relatively thereto, said extension forming a continuation of said lever, and provided at its extremity with an engaging lug adapted, when the finger-bar is raised to vertical or upright position, to snap over and engage the shoulder on the shoe extension to form a lock therefor, and means for releasing the engagement of said extension and shoulder, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a mowing-machine, a shoe, means for pivotally supporting said shoe, said shoe provided with an extension having a shoulder, a finger-bar carried by said shoe, a gaglever having an opening therethrough, a forked extension pivotally connected to said lever and having lugs projecting into said opening whereby said extension is permitted rocking movement relative to said lever, an engaging lug formed on said extension and operating to.snap'over and lock said shoulder when said finger-bar is raised into vertical or upright position, as and for the purpose set forth. I

6. In a mowing-machine, a main frame, a casting pivotally mounted thereon, a gag-lever, a lifting-link respectively connected to the casting and gag-lever, a counterbalancingspring connected at one end to the main frame and at the other end to said casting, a foot-bar rigidly connected at one end to said casting and carrying at its opposite end a treadle arranged in convenient position to be engaged by the foot of the driver, and a latch carried by said foot-treadle, and a shoulder formed on the main frame, with which said latch cooperates, as and for the purposeset forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of. March, 1902, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

PAUL HANSON.

Witnesses:

E. C. SEMPLE, S. E. DARBY. 

